Parents' Guide to

The Knights of Prosperity

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Misguided Robin Hoods miss their mark.

TV ABC Comedy 2007
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What's the Story?

THE KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY centers on Eugene Gurkin (Donal Logue), a night-shift custodian who comes up with a plan to burgle rock-n-roll icon Mick Jagger's luxurious Central Park apartment in order to finance his own dream of opening a bar. Eugene recruits a team of other hardworking "average" folks to help him pull off the heist: fellow janitor Francis "Squatch" Squacieri (Lenny Venito), taxi driver Gourishankar "Gary" Subramaniam (Maz Jobrani), and warehouse security guard Rockefeller Butts (Kevin Michael Richardson). The group, which calls itself "The Knights of Prosperity," is later joined by sultry waitress Esperanza Villalobos (Sofia Vergara) and nerdy college student Louis Plunk (Josh Grisetti). The Knights are basically good (if sometimes crass) people who reject guns and violence and commit themselves to donating whatever any excess loot to their favorite charity. They view themselves as modern-day (albeit misguided) Robin Hoods who are stealing from the rich to help the poor, and their attempts to use strategies reminiscent of Ocean's Eleven -- combined with their lack of criminal experience and their unique brand of street smarts -- lead to a few funny moments.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The series, which expects viewers to root for the Knights, shows how its members begin gaining self-esteem and feeling a sense of hope about their future as they work together to stage the perfect crime. But while this might help viewers sympathize with them, the fact remains that their cause really isn't that noble. Unlike Robin Hood, their true motivation isn't to help others, but rather to escape the day-to-day grind of their working-class life. And unlike the Ocean's Eleven gang, they aren't honest with themselves about the fact that they're engaging in criminal behavior.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why people commit crimes. Is there any crime that can really be considered noble or acceptable? What if the crime doesn't seem to really hurt someone, like stealing money from rich people? Do you think the show's premise could ever happen in real life? Why is it funny in this context? Families can also discuss how people can achieve their dreams without engaging in inappropriate behavior. How can you reach your goals despite a lack of money or education?

TV Details

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